Lux Art Institute, located in Encinitas, opened its' doors to the public in November 2007, and is redefining the modern museum experience with its artist-in-residence program. Artists live and work on site, while producing a commissioned work of art.

Throughout the year, Lux will invite an array of artists to take up residency in the studio and encourage visitors from across the country to observe and engage with real-world working artists. This one-of-a-kind institution invites visitors to not only "see art" but also to "see art happen."

Slated to be the first "green" (LEED certified) museum in California and located alongside one of Southern California's remaining coastal wetlands, Lux's four-acre site overlooks the San Elijo Lagoon and is surrounded by a wildlife preserve that stretches to the Pacific Ocean. In an effort to seamlessly meld the conservation and restoration of art beyond the museum walls, an array of rare native plants blend naturally into the nearby preserve.

Santa Monica, California based Renzo Zecchetto, AIA - whose other significant architectural projects include the award-winning Church of the Nativity in Fairbanks Ranch, Calif. and the Alusa Printing Company in Santiago, Chile - designed the two-story building to use energy-saving strategies such as solar panels and recycled materials to preserve resources for future generations. 

Lux Hours: Thursday and Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.